Stockport County 5 Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 3 ( EFL Trophy- Group Game )Tuesday 2 September 2025

 

 

 

 

Two down inside 12 minutes to Premiership Under 21 side Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stockport County`s predominantly youthful side came back impressively to claim a well-deserved 5-3 victory in tonight`s EFL Trophy game at Edgeley Park.

The match provided rich entertainment for a crowd of over 1000 – 2 goals each for Nathan Lowe ( first half) and Joe Astles ( a real find)after the break plus a fine effort by Odin Bailey saw County home, but to be fair they established total domination in the second half and were unlucky not to have scored more.

Wolves by way of contrast , having opened the match  strongly, fed on a diet of occasional breaks from deep plus a consistent supply of free kicks and largely weird decisions by the Referee after the break.

For County – Lewis Fiorini took M.O.M via a raft of sleekly delivered assists, whilst substitutes Joe Astles and Rhys Watson really impressed – Astles perhaps making the bench on Saturday, Watson well deserving of more than another look and Chally will have been pleased to see Nathan Lowe resist the unduly rough attentions of Mal Mane to nick a smart first half brace.

Others did well too in a very good County win !

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Arien Allen was first to show for County forcing a corner, but this came to nought for the blues, and it was Wolves who quickly took charge impressing with some lively interchanges.

It was one such move that saw County a goal down , just 8 minutes in, as Tom Edozie`s miscued shot somehow found its way into the County net beyond Ben Hinchliffe.

A deflected shot from Brad Hills gave the Wolves keeper some work to do, but it was not long( another 4 minutes) before the visitors doubled their advantage , Mane robbing Christy Grogan on the edge of the box before beating Ben with a brilliantly well struck shot!

Two down in 12 minutes was not good , and it was important how County responded, and within another 12 minutes we had our answer writ large  on a balmy SK3 night`s air as County hit back!

It started with Lewis Fiorini`s pass that saw to it that Nathan Lowe obliged with a well-ordered finish making it 1-2!

It continued apace with Ben Hinchliffe spotting that Josh Gracey , the Wolves keeper, was going walk about , pinging a ball up the park in response that his opposite number failed to deal with ,letting the alert Nathan Lowe in to send a neatly controlled effort into the otherwise empty Wolves net!

That was excellent, but Wolves might have taken their lead back again several times before the break--Saheed Olagunwu fluffing an easy chance heading wide at the back post and missing another good chance after creating it with some excellent approach play late in the half.

Mal Mane, who oft times could be seen looking for `afters` on Nathan Lowe, clearly on the refs blind side as he was never rebuked, seemed to have more about him going forward but a brilliant turn and shot by him was thwarted by Ben Hinchliffe `s magnificent save  around the half hour mark, and Ben again did the biz making a vital save as he went one to one with Mane at the death.

There was  time for Mane to lay Lowe out causing a stoppage , but I must have missed the refs rebuke or sanction on the repeat offender !

The half ended with County playing some neat football – Wolves were decidedly rattled but it was still 2-2 when the teams went in at half time.

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Marcus Kouam, Corey Edwards and Rhys Watson were on for Lowe, Dodgson and Grogan when the game resumed after the break.

From the off it was County dictating matters , camped in Wolves territory allowing them but the occasional break up the park, and it took the blues just 6 minutes to take the lead for the first time in the match as a lovely pull back by Che Gardner created a chance for Odin Bailey that he put away with some style!

3-2 was good…..3-3 less so and another 6 minutes saw this new reality impose itself upon us , as one of the `breaks` mentioned above saw Ethan Sutherland escape down the left to feed Wes Okoduoa with an inch perfect cross that he put away with obvious delight!

Ashton Mee took Malik Mothersille`s place around the hour and perhaps the most significant subbing for some time came with 15 minutes to go as   Joe Astles came on for Che Gardner to nick a classy brace in those few available minutes!

And what minutes they were too……

First off Astles was picked out by Fiorini`s latest precise pass , the young striker coolly beating the keeper with amazing precision, giving County back the lead….4/3!

This was followed by Astles second and it was another well-constructed gem started by Hinchliffe going long , finding the excellent Marcus Kouam who promptly headed the ball on to Astles whose lovely dink over the keeper was worth the entrance fee itself- a brilliant finish!

County had their lead which now stood at 5/3, and after the ref had treated us to 10 minutes added time , they had their win- a well-deserved result!

 

 

Stockport County line up:-

 Hinchliffe; Hills, Olowu , Grogan (Watson46), Gardner( Astles 75), Fiorini, Bailey, Dodgson (Edwards 46); Allen, Lowe (Kouam 46), Mothersille (Mee61).

 

Subs not used : Metcalfe, Lawless-Williams.

 

Wolverhampton Wanderers line up:-

Gracey , Sutherland, Olagunju, Pond , Ojinanka , Okoduoa, Rawlings , Bradbury , Mane , Edozie , Holman.

Substitutes: Bennett, Lopes, Voice, Angel , Dayman , Arnold,.

Attendance: 1,014 (65 )

hedgegrower

 

@machinsports crowd shot gallery............